Habermas and Communicative Action

1. Technical knowledge (vernunft), which is also analytic reason. When there is a surplus, gives us...
2. Practical knowledge (verstehen), which is also intersubjectivity, or communication with others. This also eventually has a surplus, so we get...
3. Emancipatory knowledge (speculative or dialectical), which is our interest in being free.

Social life only begins when there is surplus.

Media
Reason
Action
Knowledge
Purpose
Cognitive Interest
Work
Vernunft (analytic)
purposive-rational
science (natural)
control & domination of nature
technical
Language
Verstehen
communication
hermeneutic-historical
practical (phronesis), to make good citizens
practical
Social Interaction
Speculative
reflection
critical theory
rational activity
emancipatory

Work
Interaction
Orientation
technical control over objectified processes mutual understanding
Co-ordinating Rational elements
rational decision procedures (preference rules, decision maxims) and efficient use of technical knowledge intersubjectively recognized norms and rules (reciprocity and consensus predominate)

Work bounded by interaction; strategic action
Orientation calculated pursuit of individual interests
Co-ordinating Rational elements rational decision strategies interlocked in a framework of norms and intersubjectively recognized rules of procedure

Rationalization of action

Purposive-rational action
Communicative action
Learning Dimension
objectifying thought moral-practical insight
Action can be rationalized in terms of:
a. empirical efficiency of technical means
b. consistency of choice between means a. moral-practical aspect of responsibility of acting subject
b. Justifiability of underlying norms
Rationalization of action requires:
a. technically utilizable, empirical knowledge
b. testing of inner consistency of value systems and decisions maxims and correct derivation of choices a. truthfulness of intentional expressions
b. justification of rightness of norms
Rationalization of action affects:
productive forces normative structures, forms of social integration
Rationality embodied in:
technology, strategies, organizations, qualifications mechanisms of regulating conflict (law and morality), worldviews, identity formation
"Rationalization":
growing capacity to control outer nature, development of productive forces expansion of realm of consensual action, overcoming of systematically distorted communication

Media	Reason	Action	Knowledge	Purpose	Cognitive Interest
Work	Vernunft (analytic)	purposive-rational	science (natural)	control & domination of nature	technical
Language	Verstehen	communication	hermeneutic-historical	practical (phronesis), to make good citizens	practical
Social Interaction	Speculative	reflection	critical theory	rational activity	emancipatory

	Work	Interaction
Orientation	technical control over objectified processes	mutual understanding
Co-ordinating Rational elements	rational decision procedures (preference rules, decision maxims) and efficient use of technical knowledge	intersubjectively recognized norms and rules (reciprocity and consensus predominate)

Work bounded by interaction; strategic action
Orientation	calculated pursuit of individual interests
Co-ordinating Rational elements	rational decision strategies interlocked in a framework of norms and intersubjectively recognized rules of procedure

Rationalization of action
	Purposive-rational action	Communicative action
Learning Dimension	objectifying thought	moral-practical insight
Action can be rationalized in terms of:	a. empirical efficiency of technical means b. consistency of choice between means	a. moral-practical aspect of responsibility of acting subject b. Justifiability of underlying norms
Rationalization of action requires:	a. technically utilizable, empirical knowledge b. testing of inner consistency of value systems and decisions maxims and correct derivation of choices	a. truthfulness of intentional expressions b. justification of rightness of norms
Rationalization of action affects:	productive forces	normative structures, forms of social integration
Rationality embodied in:	technology, strategies, organizations, qualifications	mechanisms of regulating conflict (law and morality), worldviews, identity formation
"Rationalization":	growing capacity to control outer nature, development of productive forces	expansion of realm of consensual action, overcoming of systematically distorted communication